Due to COVID 19, hunting and tourism operations have been affected, with no income coming into the conservancy. Lodges are unable to pay fees to the conservancy, the travel restrictions have caused there to be no foreign tourists which the lodge relies on.
There are a few incidences of subsistence poaching and this is being addressed by increasing the community awareness on the importance of wildlife. Despite COVID, conservation continued. Game guards have continued to patrol throughout the lockdown period because we cannot neglect our work. Game guards are always in the field to protect our wildlife.
The Conservation Relief, Recovery and Resilient Facility (CRRRF) is very helpful because even though we continued with our work, our salaries were cut, and the facility funds will be used towards helping with the game guard and staff salaries.
If COVID continues this way things will go down so my hope is that we find ways to work around pandemic.
"When you can, come and take part in the fishing experience at Sikunga. We have big tiger fish in this area, and you can catch some Nembwe as well. We have wildlife such as elephants, black faced impalas, blue wildebeest, and kudus. So, on one of the game drives you are guaranteed to see these animals."
